Erick Erickson wrote Wednesday that until a South Carolina blogger can produce definitive evidence of an affair he claims he had with gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley (pictured), he should ‘shut the hell up.’

(CNN) – South Carolina blogger Will Folks defended himself Wednesday after Erick Erickson, the editor of the influential conservative website RedState.com, accused Folks of lying about having an affair with gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley.

Erickson, a CNN contributor, accused Folks of "pulling the noose" on a "high-tech lynching" of Haley to gin up traffic for his website and torpedo her campaign. Haley is Erickson's preferred candidate in the four-way South Carolina Republican primary race.

Unless he produces definitive evidence of an affair, Erickson wrote, Folks should "shut the hell up."

Folks produced text messages between himself and the Haley campaign Tuesday that he said backed up his assertion that he supported Haley's bid and was working with her to keep reporters and political rivals away from the rumor.

On Wednesday his website, FITSNews.com, hinted that several people had witnessed Haley visit Folks' Columbia-area home in 2007. Folks also claims to have e-mails and text messages from Haley.

Folks shot back at Erickson's criticism Wednesday, telling CNN in an e-mail that he has been "smeared viciously" by the Haley campaign in the wake of accusation, even though he previously worked with the Haley campaign to prevent the information from coming out.

He said he is "going to do everything I have to do to protect my family, my reputation and my website."

As he wrote in his initial post about the alleged affair, Folks said he was compelled to make the admission after political opponents threatened to release details about the relationship.

"As I said from the beginning, this fight was forced upon me," he told CNN. "I did not want it, do not want it and do not enjoy having to keep fighting it."

Erickson has launched an online "moneybomb" to raise money for Haley, who lags behind her three GOP rivals in campaign funds.

Why doesn't Nikki come clean and let everyone see all of her emails? What does she have to hide, and why is she letting the men fight her battle for her?

Take charge Nikki or get out.

May 27, 2010 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

Sniffit

Note to Erickson: Attempts to use big toughguy talk don't hide that you're acting like a pantwetting crybaby.

May 27, 2010 01:33 pm at 1:33 pm |

Rob Johnson

The conservatives are so rabid about shouting this guy down, but any lunatic who wants to talk about overthrowing the government next Tuesday after lunch is welcome at one ot the Tea Party rallies.

As far as I can tell, Folks has nothing to gain by claiming an affair, went to great lengths to hide it as long as he could, and only came out with it when it looked like it was going to hit the press anyway. He is at least as credible as the people who are attaching him.

It's obvious to me that this is all about winning, and Palin, Erickson and the rest of Haley's cronies could care less whether the charges are true or not. It's just another instance of the Bush Doctrine–You're either for us, or against us.

May 27, 2010 01:33 pm at 1:33 pm |

ehwilson429

if he's lying sue him and get a restraining order.

May 27, 2010 01:38 pm at 1:38 pm |

Anonymous

Can Mr Erickson prove the man is lying? He's the one that was invloved in this he said- she said relationship.
Can Haley prove his cliams to be wrong?
In light of Spitzer, Edwards and others is it so unbleivable that the accusation have merit?

May 27, 2010 01:38 pm at 1:38 pm |

Alex in Wisconsin

So...tell me again how this is a liberal plot when all the players involved are conservative.

May 27, 2010 01:39 pm at 1:39 pm |

Dave

How about she sues him for defamation, if he is lying?

May 27, 2010 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

harold

Eric Erickson the "Red".. state editor..you gonna shut him up?.Here I thought the Soviet Union and the the reds had long gone.. But no red states abound all for the glory of bringing about "small" govenrmnet.. Now that would be a Republican solution for the oil spill get small government down to the Gulf....... Small government or rather non government....the Republican solution..?

May 27, 2010 01:41 pm at 1:41 pm |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

Poor Erickson. He got 'faked' into giving up the goods on Haley.

You have to be a special kind of idiot to admit something that could harm someone you "respect". Erickson's reasoning, in typical RethugliKKKlan fashion, makes absolutely no sense. It's like saying 'They were going to kill her, so I shot her first!'. Huh?! In other words Erickson, it is looking to me like you saw an opportunity to resurrect your dying website with some fresh 'blood' from a sacrificial lamb (Haley). And being the Repugnicant that you are you had no compunction in offering up one of your own brethren to the God of fame and fortune.

Typical Republican. Glad you're screwing each other over. There should be an electric fence built around you to keep you from infecting and multipying.

May 27, 2010 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |

madmatt

Once again the scumbag erickson wants republicans to be able to lie, cheat and get away with it, apparently family values only mean something when you are not up for office.....thank god cnn hired this hateful troll!

May 27, 2010 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |

Truth

This guy is a frickin liar. This guy popped out of nowhere and started trashing this woman right after she took the lead in the polls and was leaving the othere repblicans far behind. I wonder which republican is paying this guy to trash this woman. The one Jeb Bush backed or the one Newt backed or the one Huck backed.

Take a look at the creeps pic.

His is one creepy looking guy.

May 27, 2010 01:48 pm at 1:48 pm |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

...And no. I DON'T care if the rumor is true or false. I hope it is true. I hope you continue to boink each other senseless, and often. It might help wake-up the ignorant few that actually believe that you RethugliKKKlans are worth anything.

May 27, 2010 01:50 pm at 1:50 pm |

ja

chickens coming to roost, the way of american polictics, birthers, etc

May 27, 2010 01:51 pm at 1:51 pm |

Dean

What's the big deal. Clinton had "an inappropiate relationship with that woman" in the Oval Office. All you liberal family value bashers didn't care about that one bit.

May 27, 2010 01:53 pm at 1:53 pm |

Ohio Dem

Sounds guilty to me...

May 27, 2010 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |

Bill

Well spoken, Ms Erickson.

May 27, 2010 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |

once upon a horse

when was the last time ANY politician Democrat or Republican was accused of having an affair and it was NOT true? It is normally denied for the first then after a while they come out, head bowed, sometimes weeping with devoted spouse next to them begging for forgivness. I don't want to accuse her without the facts, that would not be fair, BUT if it does happen to be true I'm just wondering how Sarah Palin will feel after standing behind her 100%. I bet somehow they will figure out a way to blame Obama for it.

May 27, 2010 01:58 pm at 1:58 pm |

Michael

Good for Folks.
As long as the right wing eat each other alive, the rest of us have some time to rebuild our country and get on with life.